Mayall: 'You Have To Be Black Or Gay To Work At The Bbc'

British comedian Rik Mayall has launched a bitter attack against the BBC, insisting the only people who succeed at the broadcaster are black, gay or female.

The 47-year-old star, best known for starring in cult BBC show THE YOUNG ONES, feels he was victimised for not fitting into a minority category, and is convinced his 1990s series BOTTOM was axed simply because it was about two straight men.

Mayall blames BBC2 controller JANE ROOT for ruining his chances of success with the comedy, which he created with long-term comic partner Adrian Edmondson.

He says, "She destroyed mine and Adrian's baby. The last series of Bottom, they never made it because she didn't like it. It was the finest series of Bottom we'd written.

"You have to be black, homosexual or a woman to work at the BBC.

"That's why they didn't like Bottom. They were two men who were heterosexual and that was the problem.

"The BBC banned Adrian and I from being on TV, for being heterosexual or known to disagree with the government.

"British TV used to be the finest in the world, now it's totally imploded."